Outdoor unit of an air conditioner

ABSTRACT

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner which is partitioned into a fan chamber disposed with a fan and a machine chamber other than the fan chamber and in which a heat-emitting part is disposed includes a casing and a impermeable plate. The casing is disposed inside the fan chamber, is disposed with openings, and houses inside the heat-emitting part. The impermeable plate employs a structure where the impermeable plate is disposed in the casing between a position where the openings are disposed and a position where the heat-emitting part is housed, and through which it is more difficult for water to pass than air. Thus, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner is configured to improve the effect of cooling a heat-emitting part while preventing water from coming into contact with the heat-emitting part.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner,and in particular to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner which ispartitioned into a fan chamber disposed with a fan and a machine chamberother than the fan chamber and in which a heat-emitting part isdisposed.

BACKGROUND ART

In an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, usually the inside of a casingof the outdoor unit is partitioned into a fan chamber and a machinechamber by a partition plate extending in the vertical and front-reardirections when seen in front view. A heat exchanger, a ventilation fan,and the like are disposed in the fan chamber, and a compressor, areactor, and the like are disposed in the machine chamber. Further, anelectrical parts unit that internally houses various kinds of electricalparts, such as a power transistor and a condenser, is disposed in themachine chamber. Drive power is supplied to the ventilation fan, thecompressor, and the like, and drive control thereof is conducted by acontrol circuit inside the electrical parts unit. The electrical partsinside the electrical parts unit are ordinarily mounted on a printedwiring board.

Incidentally, in recent years, technology has come to be often utilizedwhich frequency-controls (i.e., inverter-controls) the running of thecompressor to more finely control the running state. In order to conductsuch inverter control, a reactor or the like, which is a heat-emittingpart, is often used, and it becomes necessary to cool the heat-emittingpart in accompaniment therewith.

To this end, as described in Patent Document 1 below, an outdoor unit ofa conventional air conditioner is configured such that an opening isdisposed in the partition plate and the reactor is disposed borderingthe space inside the fan chamber so that cooling of the reactor isconducted. That is, when the ventilation fan of the outdoor unitrotates, air flows from the outside of the outdoor unit into the fanchamber of the outdoor unit through the heat exchanger, which creates aflow of air in the vicinity of the reactor that is a heat-emitting part.This flow of air can cool the reactor because it disperses the heataccumulating in the vicinity of the reactor.

<Patent Document 1>

-   -   Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H09-292142

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problem that the Invention is to Solve

Incidentally, in the aforementioned outdoor unit, the portion of thereactor bordering the space inside the fan chamber is just one portionof the entire reactor, and it is difficult to sufficiently cool theentire reactor even when a flow of air is created by the ventilationfan. For this reason, there is the potential for the reactor to becomeunable to sufficiently exhibit its function due to factors such as thetemperature of the reactor rising and restrictions being placed on itscondition of use, and there is no choice but to use a reactor that ishighly heat-resistant, which leads to an increase in cost.

In order to counter this problem, the reactor can be covered with anair-permeable casing in order to sufficiently cool the reactor, and theentire reactor can be disposed inside the fan chamber. However, becausethe outdoor unit is disposed outdoors, there is the risk that rainwateror the like may enter the inside of the fan chamber and reach thereactor. If the reactor ends up including moisture in this manner, thereis the potential for a short circuit, and there is no choice but to usea reactor that is highly heat-resistant, which of course leads to anincrease in cost.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an outdoor unit ofan air conditioner that can improve the effect of cooling aheat-emitting part while preventing water from coming into contact withthe heat-emitting part.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner recited in claim 1 is partitionedinto a fan chamber disposed with a fan and a machine chamber other thanthe fan chamber and in which a heat-emitting part is disposed. Theoutdoor unit includes a casing and a impermeable plate. The casing isdisposed inside the fan chamber, is disposed with openings, and housesinside the heat-emitting part. The impermeable plate employs a structurewhere the impermeable plate is disposed in the casing between a positionwhere the openings are disposed and a position where the heat-emittingpart is housed, and through which it is more difficult for water to passthan air. As the impermeable plate here through which it is moredifficult for water to pass than air, a plate disposed with numeroussponge-like minute holes, or a plate with a structure including aportion facing upward in the flow path of the air taken in through theopenings in the casing, is included. The plate disposed with numerousminute holes here uses a plate disposed with numerous minute holes thancan trap water droplets of a certain size based on the sizes of waterdroplets, and allows air to pass while trapping water so that the airand water are separated. Further, the plate having a structure includinga portion facing upward in the flow path of the air separates water andair based on the specific gravities of water and air, that is, due tothe property that it is more difficult for water, whose specific gravityis larger than that of air, to rise.

In an outdoor unit of a conventional air conditioner, sometimes thecooling of the heat-emitting part cannot be sufficiently conductedbecause cooling is conducted only with respect to part of the entireheat-emitting part. Further, even when the heat-emitting part isdisposed inside the fan chamber and sufficient cooling is conducted,there is the potential for rainwater or the like to enter the inside ofthe fan chamber of the outdoor unit and impart moisture to the reactor,which may lead to a short circuit.

However, in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner pertaining to claim1, the casing for housing the heat-emitting part is disposed inside thefan chamber disposed with the fan, and openings are disposed in thecasing. For this reason, a flow of air is created from these openingstoward the inside of the casing as a result of the fan being driven, andthe accumulation of heat due to the heat emitted from the heat-emittingpart housed inside the casing being dispersed can be suppressed.Further, because the casing is disposed inside the fan chamber of theoutdoor unit, outdoor rainwater or the like can reach the casing.However, here, the impermeable plate through which it is more difficultfor water to pass than air is disposed between the position where theopenings in the casing are disposed and the position where theheat-emitting part is housed. For this reason, even when moisture ismixed with the air and enters through the openings in the casing, theamount of moisture reaching the place where the heat-emitting part isdisposed can be effectively reduced by the impermeable plate. For thisreason, here, the effect of cooling the heat-emitting part can beimproved while preventing water from coming into contact with theheat-emitting part.

Here, when the openings disposed in the casing are plurally present, anoutdoor unit is also included where a impermeable plate is disposedbetween each opening and the heat-emitting part. Moreover, an outdoorunit is also included where plural impermeable plates are disposedbetween the position where the openings in the casing are disposed andthe position where the heat-emitting part is housed. Further, an outdoorunit is also included where the casing and the impermeable plate areintegrally formed rather than the impermeable plate being disposedbetween the openings in the casing and the heat-emitting part.

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner of claim 2 comprises the outdoorunit of an air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the casing is disposed onthe upper side of the fan chamber.

In an instance where the outdoor unit is directly disposed in a placesuch as on the ground outdoors or on a floor, when the outdoor unitbecomes submerged in water due to outdoor rain or the like, there is thepotential for the casing in which the heat-emitting part is housed toalso become submerged in water.

However, here, the casing housing the heat-emitting part is disposed onthe upper side of the fan chamber of the outdoor unit. For this reason,even if the outdoor unit becomes temporarily becomes submerged in water,the risk of the heat-emitting part also becoming submerged in water canbe reduced.

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner of claim 3 comprises the outdoorunit of an air conditioner of claim 1 or 2, further comprising anelectrical parts unit. The electrical parts unit disposes, inside themachine chamber, electrical parts other than the heat-emitting part.

When other electrical parts are disposed adjacent to the heat-emittingpart, there is the potential for the heat from the heat-emitting part toaccumulate in the vicinity of the other electrical parts. Additionally,when the other electrical parts are parts that are easily adverselyaffected by heat, it is necessary to sufficiently cool the heat-emittingpart to the extent that the heat-emitting part does not adversely affectthe other electrical parts, but sometimes such sufficient cooling isdifficult. Today, when the disposed distance between the heat-emittingpart and other electrical parts is becoming shorter and shorter inaccompaniment with the compactification of outdoor units, this isbecoming a more critical problem because it is easy for the heat fromthe heat-emitting part to accumulate due to the proximity of theheat-emitting part to the other electrical parts.

However, here, because the other electrical parts disposed in theelectrical parts unit are disposed inside the machine chamber, the otherelectrical parts can be disposed in a chamber that is different fromthat of the heat-emitting part housed in the casing inside the fanchamber. For this reason, the adverse affects imparted to the otherelectrical parts by the heat emitted from the heat-emitting part can bereduced.

It will be noted that even when it is not just the heat-emitting partthat emits heat but also the other electrical parts, the adverse affectsthat can occur due to these heat emissions can be reduced because theheat-emitting part and the other electrical parts that emit heat can bedisposed in different chambers.

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner of claim 4 comprises the outdoorunit of an air conditioner of claim 3, wherein the casing is disposedinside the fan chamber at the side opposite from the side near themachine chamber.

Here, the casing is disposed at the side opposite from the side near themachine chamber. For this reason, the distance between the heat-emittingpart and the other electrical parts disposed inside the machine chambercan be set long. Thus, the heat emitted from the heat-emitting part canbe prevented from leaking to the other electrical parts, and the adverseaffects that the heat-emitting part can exert on the other electricalparts can be effectively suppressed.

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner of claim 5 comprises the outdoorunit of an air conditioner of any one of claims 1 to 4, furthercomprising a fan base. By using this fan base, the fan is disposed inthe fan chamber. Additionally, the casing is attached to the fan base.

The casing is disposed in the fan chamber of the outdoor unit in orderto conduct cooling of the heat-emitting part housed inside. When thecasing is disposed in fan chamber in this manner, ordinarily a supportrod or the like for disposing the casing must be newly disposed insidethe fan chamber.

However, here, the casing is attached to the fan base for attaching thefan. For this reason, the fan base can be used not only as a base fordisposing the fan but also as a base for disposing the casing. Thus, anincrease in the number of parts necessary to dispose the casing can besuppressed. Consequently, even when the casing is disposed in the fanchamber, an increase in the number of parts that obstruct the blowing inthe blow chamber is suppressed, and a reduction in the blowingefficiency can be suppressed.

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner of claim 6 comprises the outdoorunit of an air conditioner of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein theimpermeable plate includes protruding portions that protrude in adirection from the portion housing the heat-emitting part toward theopenings in the casing. The protruding portions include, in their lowerend portions, water-stopping holes that allow the space in the vicinityof the heat-emitting part and the space in the vicinity of the openingsof the casing to be communicated in a vertical direction.

Because an outdoor unit of an air conditioner is ordinarily disposedoutdoors, sometimes moisture such as rainwater flows into the fanchamber. For this reason, there is the problem that the heat-emittingpart may short circuit when moisture becomes mixed and taken in with theair that is taken in order to cool the heat-emitting part.

However, here, a flow of air can be formed in the vicinity of theheat-emitting part as a result of the air passing through the openingsin the casing passing through the water-stopping holes in theimpermeable plate. Moreover, the water-stopping hole portions havestructures which include portions facing upward in the flow path of theair. Thus, because it can be made more difficult than air for water,whose specific gravity is greater than that of air, to proceed upward,more moisture can be stopped, and the heat-emitting part can besufficiently protected from the moisture.

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner of claim 7 comprises the outdoorunit of an air conditioner of claim 6, wherein the openings in thecasing are intake ports that take in, to the inside of the casing, airoutside the casing. Further, the casing further includes a dischargeport that discharges, to the outside, air passing through thewater-stopping holes in the impermeable plate.

Here, by disposing not just intake ports but also the discharge port, aflow of air from the intake ports to the discharge port inside thecasing can be sufficiently created when the fan inside the fan chamberis rotated/driven. Thus, a flow of air in the vicinity of theheat-emitting part can also be sufficiently ensured, and the cooling ofthe heat-emitting part can be sufficiently conducted.

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner of claim 8 comprises the outdoorunit of an air conditioner of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein theheat-emitting part is disposed at a position with a predetermined heightfrom a bottom surface of the casing.

Here, even when water enters the inside of the casing through the openportions in the casing, the heat-emitting part is disposed at a positionwith a predetermined height from the bottom surface of the casing. Forthis reason, the heat-emitting part is disposed in state where it isabove the bottom surface of the casing. Thus, even if moisture entersthe inside of the casing from the outside, the entering moisture can bebrought to the bottom surface of the casing. Consequently, even ifmoisture enters the inside of the casing from the outside, the risk ofthe moisture coming into direct contact with the heat-emitting part canbe reduced.

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner of claim 9 comprises the outdoorunit of an air conditioner of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein theheat-emitting part is a reactor used in an inverter circuit forconducting air-conditioning control.

Here, even if the heat-emitting part is a reactor used in an invertercircuit, the reactor can be sufficiently cooled by the flow of airinside the casing while preventing moisture from coming into contactwith the reactor.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

In the outdoor unit of an air conditioner pertaining to claim 1, theeffect of cooling the heat-emitting part can be improved whilepreventing moisture from coming into contact with the heat-emittingpart.

In the outdoor unit of an air conditioner pertaining to claim 2, evenwhen the outdoor unit becomes submerged in water, the risk of theheat-emitting part also becoming submerged in water can be reduced.

In the outdoor unit of an air conditioner pertaining to claim 3, theadverse affects imparted to the other electrical parts by the heatemitted from the heat-emitting part can be reduced.

In the outdoor unit of an air conditioner pertaining to claim 4, theheat emitted from the heat-emitting part can be prevented from leakingto the other electrical parts, and the adverse affects that theheat-emitting part can exert on the other electrical parts can be moreeffectively suppressed.

In the outdoor unit of an air conditioner pertaining to claim 5, evenwhen the casing is disposed in the fan chamber, an increase in thenumber of parts that obstruct the blowing in the blow chamber can besuppressed, and a reduction in the blowing efficiency can be suppressed.

In the outdoor unit of an air conditioner pertaining to claim 6, becauseit can be made more difficult than air for water, whose specific gravityis greater than that of air, to proceed upward, more moisture can bestopped, and the heat-emitting part can be sufficiently protected fromthe moisture.

In the outdoor unit of an air conditioner pertaining to claim 7, a flowof air in the vicinity of the heat-emitting part can also besufficiently ensured, and the cooling of the heat-emitting part can besufficiently conducted.

In the outdoor unit of an air conditioner pertaining to claim 8, evenwhen moisture enters the inside of the casing from the outside, the riskof the moisture coming into direct contact with the heat-emitting partcan be reduced.

In the outdoor unit of an air conditioner pertaining to claim 9, even ifthe heat-emitting part is a reactor used in an inverter circuit, thereactor can be sufficiently cooled by the flow of air inside the casingwhile preventing water from coming into contact with the reactor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

<FIG. 1> A view of the external configuration of an air conditioner.

<FIG. 2> A diagram of a refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner.

<FIG. 3> A perspective view of the cross section of an outdoor unit.

<FIG. 4> A diagram of the schematic configuration of the outdoor unit.

<FIG. 5> An assembly diagram of a reactor box.

<FIG. 6> A front cross-sectional view of the reactor box.

<FIG. 7> A top cross-sectional view of the reactor box.

<FIG. 8> A right-side cross-sectional view of the reactor box.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   2 Outdoor Unit (Outdoor Unit)-   27 Fan (Propeller Fan)-   28 a Fan Base (Fan Motor Base)-   40 Electrical Parts Unit-   42 Other Electrical Parts (Electrical Parts)-   52 Heat-Emitting Part (Reactor)-   60 Casing (Body Casing)-   71 b Openings (Water-Stopping Holes)-   79 Bottom Surface-   91 Impermeable plate (Water-Stopping Left Slit)-   91 a Protruding Portions-   91 b Water-Stopping Holes-   O4 Discharge Port-   S1 Fan Chamber (Blow Chamber)-   S2 Machine Chamber

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

<Overview of Multi-Type Air Conditioner>

An outdoor unit 2 of an air conditioner pertaining to an embodiment ofthe present invention is an outdoor unit 2 used in a multi-type airconditioner 100 such as shown in FIG. 1. The multi-type air conditioner100 includes indoor units 1 comprising plural indoor units 1 a to 1 dthat are connected to one outdoor unit 2 and attached to an indoorceiling or the like. The outdoor unit 2 and the indoor units 1 a to 1 dare connected by connectors 3 (connectors 3 a to 3 d) comprisingrefrigerant pipes and transmission lines. The four indoor units 1 a to 1d are disposed in respectively different chambers inside a home, abuilding, or a store, for example.

<Configuration of Refrigerant Circuit>

The configuration of a refrigerant circuit of the multi-type airconditioner 100 is shown in FIG. 2. The refrigerant circuit isconfigured by the one outdoor unit 2, the four indoor units 1 a to 1 dconnected in parallel to the outdoor unit 2, and the refrigerant pipes.

The outdoor unit 2 is disposed with a compressor 20, a four-way switchvalve 21, an outdoor heat exchanger 22, an accumulator 23, and the like.A discharge pipe thermistor 24 for detecting a discharge pipetemperature of a discharge side of the compressor 20 is attached to thedischarge side of the compressor 20. Further, an outside air thermistor25 for detecting the outside air temperature and an outdoor heatexchange thermistor 26 for detecting the temperature of the outdoor heatexchanger 22 are disposed in the outdoor unit 2. Further, a propellerfan 27 for blowing air into the outdoor heat exchanger 22 is disposed.The propeller fan 27 is rotated/driven by a fan motor 28.

The indoor units 1 a to 1 d have the same configuration. Below, theindoor units 1 a to 1 d will be described using the indoor unit 1 a asan example.

The indoor unit 1 a is disposed with an indoor heat exchanger 30 a andan electrically powered valve (expansion valve) 33 a that are seriallyconnected to each other. Further, the indoor unit 1 a is disposed with achamber temperature thermistor 31 a for detecting the chambertemperature and an indoor heat exchange thermistor 32 a for detectingthe temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 30 a. A liquid pipethermistor 34 a for detecting the temperature of a liquid pipe betweenthe indoor heat exchanger 30 a and the electrically powered valve 33 ais disposed in a pipe between the indoor heat exchanger 30 a and theelectrically powered valve 33 a. A gas pipe thermistor 35 a that detectsthe temperature of refrigerant passing inside is disposed at the gaspipe side of the indoor heat exchanger 30 a.

The configurations of the other indoor units 1 b, 1 c and 1 d are thesame as the configuration of the indoor unit 1 a, and equivalentreference numerals are added to the indoor heat exchangers, theelectrically powered valves, and the various kinds of thermistors inFIG. 2.

<Detailed Configuration of the Outdoor Unit>

The detailed configuration of the outdoor unit 2 in which the embodimentof the present invention is employed is shown in FIG. 3, which is aperspective view of the cross section of the outdoor unit 2, and in FIG.4, which is a diagram of the schematic configuration of the outdoor unit2. It will be noted that in FIG. 3 the direction represented by arrow D1is a vertical direction D1, the direction represented by arrow D2 is aleft-right direction D2, and the direction represented by arrow D3 is afront-rear direction D3.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the inside of the outdoor unit 2 isdivided by a partition plate 29 into a blow chamber S1 disposed with thepropeller fan 27 and a machine chamber S2 disposed with various kinds ofmachines such as the compressor 20. The partition plate 29 has a shapethat extends in the vertical direction D1, extends rearward in thefront-rear direction D3, and then bends toward rightward and rearward.The partition plate 29 is disposed such that it covers the various kindsof machines such as the compressor 20, and partitions the space insidethe outdoor unit 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, disposed inside the blow chamber S1 are thepropeller fan 27, the fan motor 28, a fan motor base 28 a, the outdoorheat exchanger 22 that is formed in a substantial L-shape from rearwardto leftward, and a reactor box 50 that houses a reactor 52. In the blowchamber S1 of the outdoor unit 2, the propeller fan 27 is rotated/drivenby the fan motor 28, whereby air for conducting heat exchange in theoutdoor heat exchanger 22 is taken in. Further, the propeller fan 27 isrotated/driven, whereby, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4, an airflowF is created inside the reactor box 50, as will be described later. Inthis manner, the blow chamber S1 serves as a blow flow path throughwhich outside air passes from rearward to frontward in the front-reardirection D3. As shown in FIG. 3, the fan motor base 28 a is disposedsuch that it extends in the vertical direction D1 in the vicinity of thecenter of the outdoor heat exchanger 22 and such that its upper portionextends in the front-rear direction. It will be noted that the fan motorbase 28 a is fastened in the vicinity of the center of the upper end ofthe outdoor heat exchanger 22 by a portion extending toward the rearside of the upper portion.

Parts such as the compressor 20, the four-way switch valve 21, theelectrically powered valve 33, and an electrical parts unit 40 aredisposed inside the machine chamber S2. Further, as shown in FIG. 3 andFIG. 4, the machine chamber S2 is covered by a substantially sealedcasing and configured such that it is isolated to a certain extent fromthe outside air. As shown in FIG. 3, the compressor 20 is disposed inthe vicinity of the substantial center of the inside of the machinechamber S2. As shown in FIG. 4, the four-way switch valve 21 and theelectrically powered valve 33 are both disposed at the side of thecompressor 20. The electrical parts unit 40 is disposed in the upperspace inside the machine chamber S2 and houses inside a printed wiringboard 41. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a printed wiring board 41′ thatextends downward from the right end portion of the printed wiring board41 is disposed in the electrical parts unit 40. The undersurfaces andthe right side surfaces of both the printed wiring board 41 and theprinted wiring board 41′ serve as mounting surfaces on which are mountedmany electrical parts 42, such as a heat-emitting power transistor 45, acondenser, a diode bridge, an IC for a control circuit for controllingthe various machine parts of the outdoor unit 2, and a memory thatstores a control program. Additionally, the compressor 20, the four-wayswitch valve 21, the electrically powered valve 33, and the fan motor 28disposed below the electrical parts unit 40 of the machine chamber S2are connected, via an opening disposed in the casing of the electricalparts unit 40, to plural connectors that are mounted on the printedwiring board 41 and the printed wiring board 41′ via a wire harness.Moreover, various kinds of thermistors are disposed inside the machinechamber S2, and these thermistors are also connected to the connectorson the printed wiring board 41 and the printed wiring board 41′. The fanmotor 28 disposed in the blow chamber S1 is also connected to theconnectors on the printed wiring board 41 and the printed wiring board41′ via the wire harness, whereby the fan motor 28 isrotated/controlled. It will be noted that an unillustrated invertercircuit is configured by the circuits on the printed wiring board 41 andthe printed wiring board 41′ and the reactor 52, and the number ofrotations of the compressor 20 is variable-speed-controlled by thisinverter circuit. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a heat-dissipating fin 43is disposed in the electrical parts unit 40 such that theheat-dissipating fin 43 runs from the machine chamber S2 to the blowchamber S1 in order to effectively disperse the heat emitted from thepower transistor 45 that is a heat-emitting electrical part 42 mountedon the printed wiring board 41′. Thus, the heat emitted from the powertransistor 45 can also be sufficiently cooled by the propeller fan 27 ofthe blow chamber S1.

<Detailed Configuration of the Reactor Box>

As shown in FIG. 3, the reactor box 50 is disposed such that it bridgesthe outdoor heat exchanger 22 and the fan motor base 28 in the upperspace of the blow chamber S1 of the outdoor unit 2. Further, as shown inFIG. 4, the reactor box 50 is disposed at the left side of the inside ofthe blow chamber S1, which is disposed on the side opposite from theheat-dissipating fin 43 disposed in the electrical parts unit 40. Thereactor box 50 houses inside the heat-emitting reactor 52.

As shown in FIG. 5, the reactor box 50 is configured by a body casing60, which comprises a lower casing 70 and an upper casing 80, and awater-stopping casing 90, which is disposed inside the body casing 60.

As shown in the assembly diagram of FIG. 5, these casings form thereactor box 50 as a result of being screwed together with screws 61, 63,64 and 65. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 8, which shows the right sideof the reactor box, and in FIG. 5 and FIG. 3, the reactor box 50 isscrewed with a screw 68 into a screw hole 28 b punched in acorresponding portion of the later-described fan motor base 28 a.

Further, the reactor 52 configures part of the inverter circuit thatcontrols the number of rotations and the like of the compressor 20. Asshown in FIG. 6, which is a front view of the reactor box, the reactor52 is housed inside the reactor box 50. Further, the reactor 52 isconnected to a connector on the underside of the printed wiring board 41inside the electrical parts unit 40 via a reactor-use wire harness (notshown) extending such that it runs over the rear side of the fan motorbase 28 a and away from the partition plate 29. The reactor 52configures the inverter circuit together with the circuit disposed onthe printed wiring board 41 and controls the number of rotations of thecompressor 20. The reactor 52 has the property that its temperaturerises and it emits heat when the air conditioner 100 runs.

Below, the water-stopping casing 90 and the body casing 60 thatconfigure the reactor box 50 will be described.

(Water-Stopping Casing)

As shown in FIG. 5, the water-stopping casing 90 is configured by awater-stopping left slit 91, a water-stopping rear slit 91′, a frontsurface 93, contact plates 95, a right side surface 97, and an uppersurface 99.

As shown in FIG. 6, which is a front view, and in FIG. 7, which is a topview, the water-stopping left slit 91 configures the left side surfaceof the water-stopping casing 90. As shown in FIG. 6, three protrudingportions 91 a are disposed on the water-stopping slit 91. Water-stoppingholes 91 b are disposed in the lower end portions of the threeprotruding portions 91 a. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the protrudingportions 91 a are formed such that they extend further toward the leftside from the left side surface of the water-stopping casing 90 and suchthat their degree of protrusion increases downward. The water-stoppingholes 91 b are openings disposed in the lower end portions of theprotruding portions 91 a and are formed such that they are slightlyslanted rightward and downward when seen in front view. As shown in FIG.6, the water-stopping holes 91 b allow a double water-stopping space S5that configures the space at the right side of the water-stopping slit91 in the left-right direction D2 and a left side water-stopping spaceS7 that configures the space at the left side of the water-stopping slit91 to be communicated in a direction slightly slanted to the right fromthe vertical direction D1.

As shown in FIG. 8, which is a right side view, and in FIG. 7, thewater-stopping rear slit 91′ has the same shape as the water-stoppingslit 91 and configures the rear surface of the water-stopping casing 90.As shown in FIG. 8, the water-stopping rear slit 91′ includes threeprotruding portions 91′a that protrude toward the rear side of thewater-stopping casing 90 and water-stopping holes 91′b that are disposedin the lower end portions of the protruding portions 91′a. As shown inFIG. 8, the protruding portions 91′a are formed such that they protrudefurther toward the rear side in the front-rear direction D3 from therear surface of the water-stopping casing 90 and such that their degreeof protrusion increases downward. The water-stopping holes 91′b areopenings disposed in the lower end portions of the protruding portions91′a and are formed such that they are slightly slanted leftward anddownward when seen in right side view. As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 7,the water-stopping holes 91′b allow the double water-stopping space S5that configures the space at the front side of the water-stopping slit91′ in the front-rear direction D3 and a rear water-stopping space S8that configures the space at the rear side of the water-stopping slit91′ to be communicated in a direction slightly slanted to the left fromthe vertical direction D1 when seen in right side view.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the upper surface 99 configures the uppersurface of the water-stopping casing 90 and includes two reactor screwholes 92 and two reactor-attaching concave portions 98. The reactorscrew holes 92 are punched at two places in the upper surface 99 suchthat they penetrate the upper surface 99 in the vertical direction D1.The two reactor-attaching concave portions 98 are disposed at the frontside and the rear side at the right side of the upper surface 99 and areformed such that they are slightly recessed downward. An opening thatopens from the left side in the left-right direction D2 toward the rearside in the front-rear direction D3 is disposed in the recessed portionat the front side, and an opening that opens from the left side in theleft-right direction D2 toward the front side in the front-reardirection D3 is disposed in the recessed portion at the rear side.

As shown in FIG. 5, the front surface 93 configures the front sidesurface of the water-stopping casing 90 and includes a screw hole 93 apunched in the front-rear direction D3. As shown in FIG. 6, the contactplates 95 are disposed such that they extend from the lower end portionof the water-stopping slit 91 to the right side in the left-rightdirection D2. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the right side surface 97configures the right side surface of the water-stopping casing 90 andincludes a screw hole 97 a punched in the left-right direction D2.Further, as shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, the right side surface97 also includes a heat-dissipating opening 97 b that is long in thefront-rear direction D3 and penetrates the right side surface 97 in theleft-right direction D2.

(Body Casing)

The body casing 60 is configured as a result of the lower casing 70 andthe upper casing 80 being combined in the vertical direction D1.

(Lower Casing)

As shown in FIG. 5, the lower casing 70 is configured by a lower leftslit 71, a right side surface 73, a front fixing portion 74, a rearfixing portion 75, drain holes 76, an L-shaped plate 77, a slantedsurface 78, and a bottom surface 79.

As shown in FIG. 6, which is a front view, and in FIG. 7, which is a topview, the upper portion of the lower left slit 71 extends in thevertical direction D1, and the lower portion of the lower left slit 71is bent in the right direction and extends rightward and downward toconfigure the left side surface of the lower casing 70. As shown in FIG.6 and FIG. 7, three protruding portions 71 a are disposed on the lowerleft slit 71. Water-stopping holes 71 b are formed in the lower endportions of the three protruding portions 71 a. As shown in FIG. 6, theprotruding portions 71 a are formed such that they protrude furthertoward the left side from the left side surface of the lower casing 70and such that their degree of protrusion increases downward. Thewater-stopping holes 71 b are openings disposed in the lower endportions of the protruding portions 71 a and are formed such that theyare slightly slanted rightward and downward when seen in front view. Asshown in FIG. 6, the water-stopping holes 71 b allow the blow chamber S1outside the reactor box 50 that configures the space at the right sideof the lower left slit 71 in the left-right direction D2 and the leftside water-stopping space S7 that configures the space at the right sideof the lower left slit 71 to be communicated in a direction slightlyslanted to the right from the vertical direction D1.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, the bottom surface 79 extends rightwardin the left-right direction D2 from the lower end portion of the lowerleft slit 71 and configures the bottom surface of the lower casing 70.As shown in FIG. 6, the drain holes 76 are openings disposed such thatthey allow the blow chamber S1 outside the reactor box 50 and the leftside water-stopping space S7 to be communicated at the lower end portionof the lower left slit 71 and the left end portion of the bottom surface79. As shown in FIG. 5, the drain holes 76 are disposed at two places:the front side and the rear side. As shown in FIG. 6, the slantedsurface 78 extends rightward and upward from the right end portion ofthe bottom surface 79 and configures the right lower surface of thelower casing 70. As shown in FIG. 6, the right side surface 73configures a surface that extends upward in the vertical direction D1from the upper end portion of the slanted surface 78. The right sidesurface 73 includes a screw hole 73 a punched in the left-rightdirection D2. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the L-shaped plate 77configures an L-shaped surface that extends rightward in the left-rightdirection D2 from the upper end portion of the right side surface 73 andthen bends upward in the vertical direction D1. As shown in FIG. 5, FIG.7 and FIG. 8, the front fixing portion 74 is a surface that extendsfrontward from the center portion of the upper end of the front surfaceof the lower casing 70 and includes a screw hole 74 a punched in thevertical direction D1 in the vicinity of the center of this surface. Therear fixing portion 75 is the same as the front fixing portion 74, andas shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, is a surface that extendsrearward from the center portion of the upper end of the rear surface ofthe lower casing 70 and includes a screw hole 75 a punched in thevertical direction D1 in the vicinity of the center of this surface.

(Upper Casing)

As shown in FIG. 5, the upper casing 80 is configured by an upper rearslit 81, a front surface 83, a front fixed portion 84, a rear fixedportion 85, a wind-guide plate 87, a reactor box-disposing plate 88, anda top surface 89.

As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 7, the upper rear slit 81 has the same shapeas that of the water-stopping rear slit 91′, configures the rear surface81 of the upper rear slit, and includes three protruding portions 81 aand water-stopping holes 81 b formed in the protruding portions 81 a. Asshown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 7, the protruding portions 81 a are formed suchthat they protrude further toward the rear side from the rear surface ofthe water-stopping casing 90 and such that their degree of protrusionincreases downward. As shown in FIG. 8, the water-stopping holes 81 bare openings disposed in the lower end portions of the protrudingportions 81 a and formed such that they slightly slant leftward anddownward when seen in right side view. As shown in FIG. 8, thewater-stopping holes 81 b allow the rear water-stopping space S8 thatconfigures the space at the rear side of the water-stopping slit 91′ andthe blow chamber S1 outside the reactor box 50 facing the rear side ofthe upper rear slit 81 to be communicated in a direction slightlyslanted to the left from the vertical direction D1 when seen in rightside view.

The upper surface 89 configures the upper surface of the upper casing80, and includes concave portions 82, a nipping portion 86, and afastening portion 89 a. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 5, the concaveportions 82 are formed at two places in the upper surface 89 of theupper casing 80 such that they are upwardly recessed at placescorresponding to the positions of screw holes used in thelater-described fixing of the reactor 52. As shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6 andFIG. 7, the nipping portion 86 is disposed in the vicinity of the leftend portion of the upper surface 89 of the upper casing 80. The nippingportion 86 is configured by an outer nipping portion 86 a that extendsdownward in the vertical direction D1 in the vicinity of the left endportion of the upper surface 89 of the upper casing 80 and an innernipping portion 86 b that extends downward from a position further tothe right side than the outer nipping portion 86 a. It will be notedthat the left side portion of the inner nipping portion 86 b from theupper surface end surface penetrates the upper surface 89 in thevertical direction D1. As shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, thefastening portion 89 a configures the right end portion of the uppersurface 89 of the upper casing 80 and is formed such that it risesslightly upward in order to contact the fan motor base 28 a.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the wind-guide plate 87 configures asurface extending downward in the vertical direction D1 from the leftend portion of the fastening portion 89 a configuring part of the uppersurface 89 of the upper casing 80. As shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 and FIG.8, the reactor box-disposing plate 88 is disposed such that it extendsrearward from the rear surface of the right side of the upper casing 80and then bends rightward. A screw hole 88 a is disposed in the reactorbox-disposing plate 88 such that the screw hole 88 a communicates in thefront-rear direction D3 in the surface disposed such that it bendsrightward. The front surface 83 configures the front surface of theupper casing 80 and includes a screw hole 83 a punched in the front-reardirection D3.

As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the front fixed portion 84 is a surfacethat extends frontward from the vicinity of the center portion of thelower end of the front surface of the upper casing 80, and includes ascrew hole 84 a punched in the vertical direction D1 in the vicinity ofthe center of this surface. The rear fixed portion 85 is the same as thefront fixed portion 84, and as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, is a surfacethat extends rearward from the center portion of the lower end of therear surface of the upper casing 80, and includes a screw hole 85 apunched in the vertical direction D1 in the vicinity of the center ofthis surface.

<Fixing of the Reactor Box>

The reactor box 50 is configured as a result of the body casing 60 andthe water-stopping casing 90 being combined together. The reactor 52 ishoused inside the reactor box 50, and the reactor box 50 is fixed to theinside of the blow chamber 91 of the outdoor unit 2.

(Operation of Fixing the Reactor Box and the Reactor)

As shown in FIG. 5, the reactor 52 is fixed inside the reactor box 50configured by the water casing 90 and the body casing 60, which isconfigured by the lower casing 70 and the upper casing 80. Specifically,as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the reactor 52 is fixed by the followingprocedure.

To begin, the reactor 52 is fixed to the water-stopping casing 90.First, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 5, a right upper end portion 52 a ofthe reactor 52 is slid rightward in the left-right direction D2 withrespect to the openings disposed inside the reactor-attaching concaveportions 98 in the upper surface 99 of the water-stopping casing 90.When the reactor 52 is slid rightward, the right upper end portion 52 aof the reactor 52 becomes engaged with the reactor-attaching concaveportions 98 in the upper surface of the water-stopping casing 90.Further, in regard to a left side portion 52 b of the reactor 52, asshown in the front view of FIG. 6 and in FIG. 5, the reactor screw hole92 punched in the upper surface of the water-stopping casing 90 and anunillustrated screw hole punched in the corresponding portions of thereactor 52 become communicated and screwed together with the screw 62 inthe substantial vertical direction D1. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6,the screw 62 protrudes further upward than the upper surface of thewater-stopping casing 90, but because a space is disposed by thecorresponding concave portion 82 in the upper surface 89 of the uppercasing 80, the protruding portion can be housed inside this space. Inthis manner, the reactor 52 is fixed to the water-stopping casing 90. Itwill be noted that, as shown in FIG. 5, two reactor screw holes 92 aredisposed in the water-stopping casing 90 and two concave portions 82 aredisposed in the upper casing 80, and the reason for this is ensure thatreactors of different sizes can be housed.

Next, the water-stopping casing 90 is fixed to the lower casing 70 ofthe body casing 60. Here, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the right sidesurface 97 of the water-stopping casing 90 is disposed facing left andthe right side surface 73 of the lower casing 70 is disposed facingright, and both are joined together from the left-right direction D2.Then, they are screwed together with the screw 61 as a result of thescrew hole 97 a punched in the right side surface 97 of thewater-stopping casing 90 and the screw hole 73 a punched in the rightside surface 73 of the lower casing 70 becoming mutually communicated.In this manner, the water-stopping casing 90 and the lower casing 70 arefixed.

Moreover, the water-stopping casing 90 is fixed to the upper casing 80of the body casing 60. Here, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the frontsurface 93 of the water-stopping casing 90 is disposed facing rearwardand the front surface 83 of the upper casing 80 is disposed facingfrontward, and both are joined together from the front-rear directionD3. Then, they are screwed together with the screw 63 as a result of thescrew hole 93 a punched in the front surface 93 of the water-stoppingcasing 90 and the screw hole 83 a punched in the front surface 83 of theupper casing 80 becoming mutually communicated. In this manner, thewater-stopping casing 90 and the upper casing 80 are fixed.

Then, finally the upper casing 80 and the lower casing 70 are fixedtogether, and the body casing 60 housing the reactor 52 is completed.Here, as shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, in regard to the front sideof the body casing 60, the front fixed portion 84 of the upper casing 80and the front fixing portion 74 of the lower casing 70 are joinedtogether from the vertical direction D1. Then, they are screwed togetherwith the screw 64 as a result of the screw hole 84 a punched in thefront fixed portion 84 of the upper casing 80 and the screw hole 74 apunched in the front fixing portion 74 of the lower casing 70 becomingmutually communicated. Further, in regard to the rear side of the bodycasing 60, the rear fixed portion 85 of the upper casing 80 and the rearfixing portion 75 of the lower casing 70 are joined together from thevertical direction D1. Then, they are screwed together with the screw 65as a result of the screw hole 85 a punched in the rear fixed portion 85of the upper casing 80 and the screw hole 75 a punched in the rearfixing portion 75 of the lower casing 70 becoming mutually communicated.In this manner, the upper casing 80 and the lower casing 70 are fixed.It will be noted that, as shown in FIG. 6, when the reactor box 50 isassembled, a discharge port O4 is formed between the wind-guide plate 87disposed in the upper casing 80 and the L-shaped plate 77.

It will also be noted that the fixing means of fixing the casingstogether are not limited to fixing means where the casings are screwedtogether with screws in this manner. For example, fixing means may alsobe employed where the casings are fixed together by disposing pawlportions and engaged portions that engage with the pawl portions.

(Operation of Fixing the Reactor Box to the Outdoor Unit)

The reactor box 50 housing inside the reactor 52 as described above isfixed in the blow chamber S1 of the outdoor unit 2 as shown in FIG. 3.

First, as shown in FIG. 3, the fastening portion 89 a of the uppercasing 80 of the reactor box 50 is disposed such that it covers fromabove, and engages with, the portion of the fan motor base 28 aextending frontward in the front-rear direction D3 from the upper endportion of the center of the outdoor heat exchanger 22.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, the nipping portion 86 disposedon the left side of the upper surface 89 of the upper casing 80 of thereactor box 50 nips the left side portion of the outdoor heat exchanger22. Specifically, the nipping portion 86 nips the left side portion ofthe outdoor heat exchanger 22 such that the left side portion of theoutdoor heat exchanger 22 is nipped between the outer nipping portion 86a from the left side and the inner nipping portion 86 b from the rightside.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the reactor box-disposingplate 88 disposed in the upper casing 80 and the portion of the fanmotor base 28 a disposed along the outdoor heat exchanger 22 are joinedtogether from the front-rear direction D3. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5,FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, they are screwed together with the screw 68as a result of the screw hole 88 a punched in the reactor box-disposingplate 88 and the screw hole 28 b punched in the corresponding portion ofthe fan motor base 28 a becoming mutually communicated, whereby thereactor box 50 is fixed inside the blow chamber S1.

<Operation when the Reactor is Cooled>

In the blow chamber S1 of the outdoor unit 2 of the air conditioner 100,the propeller fan 27 is disposed as shown in FIG. 3, and the airflow Frepresented by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 4 is formed in the blowchamber S1 as a result of the propeller fan 27 being rotated/driven bythe fan motor 28. The airflow F will be specifically described below.

The air outside the outdoor unit 2 is taken into the blow chamber S1through the outdoor heat exchanger 22 from the outer rear of the outdoorunit 2 as a result of an airflow being formed in accompaniment with therotation/driving of the propeller fan 27. As represented by arrows F1,F2, F3, F1′, F2′ and F3′ shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 8, and FIG. 7, which is atop view of the reactor box 50, the air taken into the blow chamber S1is taken into the left side water-stopping space S7 through the lowerleft slit 71 disposed in the lower casing 70, and is taken into the rearwater-stopping space S8 through the upper rear slit 81 disposed in theupper casing 80. In this manner, the air taken into the left sidewater-stopping space S7 and into the rear water-stopping space S8 istaken into the double water-stopping space S5 where the reactor 52 isdisposed through the water-stopping left slit 91 and the water-stoppingrear slit 91′ disposed in the water-stopping casing 90. Then, a flow ofair is created in the vicinity of the reactor 52 housed in the doublewater-stopping space S5, whereby the heat emitted from the heat-emittingreactor 52 is dispersed. In this manner, in the double water-stoppingspace S5, the air passing through the vicinity of the reactor 52 passesthrough the heat-dissipating opening 97 b disposed in the right sidesurface 97 of the water-stopping casing 90, passes above the L-shapedplate 77 of the lower casing 70, passes through the discharge port O4that is a space between the wind-guide plate 87 disposed in the uppercasing 80 and the L-shaped plate 77, and is discharged to the blowchamber S1 outside the reactor box 50.

The reason the airflow F is formed such that air is taken into thereactor box 50 in this manner is so that the outside air is taken in thedirection from the rear surface and the left side surface of the outdoorheat exchanger 22 of the outdoor unit 2 to the inside of the blowchamber S1 when the propeller fan 27 of the blow chamber S1 isrotated/driven. For this reason, the outside air enters the inside ofthe reactor box 50 through the lower left slit 71 and the upper rearslit 81 of the reactor box 50.

Further, here, the air inside the reactor box 50 is discharged to theoutside of the reactor box 50 through the space between the wind-guideplate 87 disposed in the upper casing 80 and the L-shaped plate 77. Thereason the airflow F4, where the air is discharged to the outside blowchamber S1 via the discharge port O4 at the right side of the doublewater-stopping space S5 inside the reactor box 50, is formed in thismanner is so that a strong airflow resulting from the propeller fan 27is formed from rearward to frontward in the front-rear direction D3 atthe right side of the reactor box 50 and so that a state where thepressure is low in comparison to the pressure in the vicinity of thecenter of the inside of the reactor box 50 is formed in the vicinity ofthe right side of the inside of the reactor box 50 where the air isdischarged. In this manner, the air inside the reactor box 50 flowstoward the vicinity of the heat-dissipating opening 97 b where thepressure is low, and is discharged to the blow chamber S1 outside thereactor box 50 via the discharge port O4 in the reactor box 50.

<Water-Stopping Operation of the Reactor Box>

Ordinarily, the outdoor unit 2 is disposed outdoors, and there is thepotential for the outdoor unit 2 to receive rainwater. And sometimes,not only air but also moisture becomes mixed inside the blow chamber S1as a result of the propeller fan 27 disposed inside the outdoor unit 2rotating. Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the reactor 52 employs a doublestructure where the left side and the rear side of the reactor 52, whichare the sides which take in the outside air, are doubly covered by thereactor box 50. For this reason, the reactor 52 can be sufficientlyprotected from moisture.

Specifically, the path where the outside air is taken in from the leftside is covered once by the lower left slit 71 of the lower casing 70and covered twice by the water-stopping left slit 91 of thewater-stopping casing 90. Further, the path where the outside air istaken in from the rear side is covered once by the upper rear slit 81 ofthe upper casing 80 and covered twice by the water-stopping rear slit91′ of the water-stopping casing 90. Because the path from the left sideand the path from the rear side are substantially the same, the doublestructure will be described below using the double structure of the leftside as an example.

In the outdoor unit 2, as mentioned previously, air and moisture enterthe blow chamber S1 together, and as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7,sometimes they reach the vicinity of the reactor box 50 due to theairflows F1 and F1′. When moisture and outside air reach the vicinity ofthe reactor box 50 due to the airflows F1 and F1′ in this manner, first,as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a large portion of the moisture isstopped by the protruding portions 71 a of the lower left slit 71 of thelower casing 70 serving as the first cover such that the moisture doesnot enter the inside of the reactor box 50. Then, the air and a minuteamount of moisture flow rightward and diagonally upward in plan view dueto the airflow F2 shown in FIG. 6 and reach the vicinity of thewater-stopping holes 71 b in the lower left slit 71. However, becausethe specific gravity of the moisture is greater than that of the air, itis difficult for the moisture to proceed upward and pass through thewater-stopping holes 71 b in the lower left slit 71. Moreover, a minuteamount of moisture has the possibility of reaching the left sidewater-stopping space S7 through the lower left slit 71. Because thepower of air-flow F2 passes over lower left slit 71, it becomes weak.Therefore, the minute amount of moisture that passed over lower leftslit 71 falls downward in the left side water-stopping space S7. and theminute amount of moisture passes through the drain holes 76 and is againdischarged to the inside of the blow chamber S1 outside the reactor box50. Further, because the flow of passing air weakens in the vicinity ofthe water-stopping holes 91 b in the water-stopping left slit 91 of thewater-stopping casing 90, similar to the water-stopping holes 71 b inthe lower left slit 71, it is difficult for even a minute amount ofmoisture reaching the left side water-stopping space S7 to pass upward.That is, even moisture moving due to the momentum of the airflow F2cannot pass upward through the water-stopping holes 91 b because theflow of passing air weakens in the vicinity of the water-stopping holes91 b in the water-stopping left slit 91. For this reason, the airflow F3can be created which allows virtually no moisture to pass through thewater-stopping holes 91 b in the water-stopping left slit 91 of thewater-stopping casing 90 but does allow air to pass.

In this manner, it becomes difficult for moisture to enter the inside ofthe double water-stopping space S5 due to the double structure of thereactor box 50.

<Characteristics>

(1)

In an outdoor unit of a conventional air conditioner, disposition placesand disposition structures are employed, such as disposing the reactor52, which is a heat-emitting part, inside the machine chamber 2. Forthis reason, sometimes it becomes difficult for the heat emitted fromthe reactor 52 to escape and it is difficult to sufficiently cool thereactor 52 because a flow of air is only partially formed in thevicinity of the reactor 52. In this manner, when the temperatures of theelectrical parts 42 and the reactor 52 rise, there is the potential forthem to become unable to sufficiently exhibit their functions due tofactors such as restrictions being placed on the conditions of use ofthe electrical parts 42 and the reactor 52. Moreover, in accompanimenttherewith, it becomes necessary to separately develop/manufacture a newreactor 52 having excellent heat resistance, which is expensive.

However, in the outdoor unit 2 of the air conditioner 100 in theabove-described embodiment, the reactor 52, which is a heat-emittingpart, is housed in the reactor box 50 in which the discharge port O4 andthe outside air intake ports of the water-stopping holes 71 b in thelower left slit 71 and the water-stopping holes 91 b in thewater-stopping left slit 91 are disposed, and the reactor 52 is set inthe blow chamber S1 where the airflow F is formed by the propeller fan27. For this reason, the airflow F is created from the outside airintake ports of the water-stopping holes 71 b in the lower left slit 71and the water-stopping holes 91 b in the water-stopping left slit 91,through the inside of the reactor box 50, and toward the discharge portO4, so that the heat emitted from the reactor 52 can be dispersed andthe accumulation of heat can be suppressed. For this reason, the effectof cooling the reactor 52 can be improved. Further, there is thus nolonger the necessity to separately develop/manufacture a new reactorwith excellent heat resistance.

(2)

In recent years, in accompaniment with the narrowing and the like of thespace where an outdoor unit is disposed, the compactification of entireoutdoor units has been advancing. However, when the entire outdoor unitis narrowed in this manner, the distance between where the reactor 52,which is a heat-emitting part, and the electrical parts 42, which arehoused in the electrical parts unit 40 and are relatively susceptible toheat, are disposed becomes shorter, which can lead to the electricalparts 42 being adversely affected by the heat emitted from the reactor52. Further, it becomes necessary to develop/manufacture electricalparts with excellent heat resistance, and the cost rises. There areexamples where the electrical parts unit 40 and the reactor box 50 aredisposed inside the machine chamber S2, but in this case, theheat-dissipating fin 43 disposed in the electrical parts unit 40 inorder to ensure heat dissipation becomes disposed in the vicinity of thereactor 52, so that the effect of cooling the electrical parts unit 40with the heat-dissipating fin 43 is reduced.

However, in the outdoor unit 2 pertaining to the above-describedembodiment, the electrical parts unit 40, in which the electrical parts42 are housed, and the reactor box 50, in which the reactor 52 ishoused, are disposed in separate chambers to ensure a certain distancebetween the two. For this reason, it can be made difficult for theelectrical parts 42 to be adversely affected by the heat emitted fromthe reactor 52. Thus, compactification of the outdoor unit 2 can beachieved while ensuring an ability to dissipate the heat of the reactor52. Further, the manufacturing cost can also be kept low because thedesign temperature of the materials of the reactor 52 and the electricalparts 42 can be lowered and the heat resistance can be lowered somewhat.

Further, because even the machine parts disposed below the electricalparts unit 40 inside the machine chamber S2 with the emit-heat propertyand the electrical parts 42 housed inside the electrical parts unit 40with the emit-heat property are disposed at positions mutually away fromthe reactor 52, the mutually emitted heat can be efficiently dispersed.

(3)

It will be noted that even when the reactor 52 is disposed in the blowchamber S1 and sufficient cooling is conducted, there is the potentialfor outdoor rainwater or the like to enter the blow chamber S1 of theoutdoor unit 2 and for moisture to be imparted to the reactor 52, whichmay lead to a short circuit. For this reason, the separatedevelopment/manufacture of a reactor with excellent water resistancebecomes necessary, which is expensive. Further, as a form where thereactor 52 is disposed at a position away from the electrical parts unit40, the reactor 52 can be disposed in the vicinity of the bottom frameof the outdoor unit 2 at a position slightly away from the electricalparts unit 40 in the space above the machine chamber S2. However, inthis case, in cold regions, moisture such as rainwater grows at a fastspeed in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the outdoor unit 2 andbecomes ice, and there is also the potential for the reactor 52 itselfto become submerged in water, which may lead to a short circuit.

However, in the outdoor unit 2 of the air conditioner 100 in theabove-described embodiment, the water-stopping slit 91, which employs astructure where it is more difficult for water than air to passtherethrough, is disposed between the reactor 52 and the water-stoppingholes 71 b in the lower left slit 71 of the reactor box 50. For thisreason, in the reactor box 50 in the above-described embodiment, adouble structure resulting from the water-stopping holes 71 b in thelower left slit 71 and the water-stopping holes 91 b in thewater-stopping left slit 91 can be disposed. For this reason, even whenair and moisture become mixed inside the reactor box 50 through thewater-stopping holes 71 b in the lower left slit 71, the reactor 52 canbe protected because the moisture is effectively stopped by thewater-stopping holes 91 b in the water-stopping left slit 91. Further,the reactor 52 is fixed under the top plate of the outdoor unit 2, whichis the upper space in the outdoor unit 2. For this reason, the risk ofthe reactor 52 becoming submerged in water can also be reduced. Thus,there is no longer the necessity of separately developing/manufacturinga new reactor with excellent water resistance.

(4)

Further, the reactor box 50 in the above-described embodiment isdisposed in the upper portion in the vertical direction D1, and at theleft side in the left-right direction D2, of the blow chamber S1 of theoutdoor unit 2. For this reason, the reactor box 50 is disposed as faraway as possible from the center portion of the blow chamber S1 wherethe propeller fan 27 is disposed and where the blowing strength isstrong. For this reason, even if the reactor box 50 is disposed in theblow chamber S1, the blowing resistance can be prevented from increasingdue to the propeller fan 27. For this reason, even if the reactor box 50is disposed in the blow chamber S1, the blowing performance of thepropeller fan 27 can be maintained as high as possible.

It will be noted that the reactor box 50 has a shape where the lowerright portion is cut out from a substantially rectangularparallelepiped. For this reason, the reactor box 50 has a structure thatdoes not, as much as possible, obstruct the flow of air in the centerportion of the blow chamber S1 where the propeller fan 27 is disposed.For this reason, even if the reactor box 50 is disposed inside the blowchamber S1, the blowing resistance can more effectively be preventedfrom increasing, and deterioration of the blowing performance can bemade gradual.

Moreover, in the outdoor unit 2 of the air conditioner 100 in theabove-described embodiment, the reactor box 50 can be disposed in theblow chamber S1 without disposing a new support rod for disposing thereactor box 50 but by using the fan motor base 28 a used to dispose thefan motor 28. For this reason, the reactor box 50 can be disposed evenwhen a support rod for disposing the reactor box and which becomes anobstruction to blowing is not disposed.

(5)

The drain holes 76, which can drain to the outside any water passingthrough the water-stopping holes 71 b in the lower left slit 71 andentering the inside of the reactor box 50, are disposed in the outdoorunit 2 of the air conditioner 100 in the above-described embodiment.Further, the contact plates 95 of the water-stopping casing 90 aredisposed which contact the bottom surface 79 of the lower casing 70 ofthe reactor box 50 such that conversely water does not enter the insideof the reactor box 50 through the drain holes 76.

For this reason, water passing through the water-stopping holes 71 b ofthe lower left slit 71 and entering the inside of the reactor box 50 canbe discharged to the blow chamber S1 outside the reactor box 50 suchthat the water is brought to the vicinity of the bottom surface of theleft side water-stopping space S7 of the reactor box 50. For thisreason, the ability to stop water with respect to the reactor 52 can bemore reliably ensured.

Other Embodiments

An embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but thepresent invention should not be construed as being limited to thisembodiment and can be variously modified in a range that does not departfrom the gist of the invention.

(A)

In the outdoor unit 2 of the air conditioner 100 in the above-describedembodiment, the outdoor unit 2 was described as an example where thereactor box 50 is double-structured and disposed in the blow chamber S1in order to improve the effect of cooling the reactor 52 whilepreventing moisture from contacting the reactor 52. That is, the reactorbox 50 is employed which has a structure including a portion facingupward in the flow path of the air, the air and moisture are separateddue to the property where, based on the specific gravities of water andair, it becomes difficult for water, whose specific gravity is largerthan that of air, to rise upward, so that the ability of the reactor box50 to stop water is secured while ensuring the effect of cooling thereactor 52.

However, the present invention is not limited to this. The reactor boxmay also be one where numerous tiny holes such as in a sponge aredisposed, for example, as the water-stopping left slit 91 and thewater-stopping rear slit 91′ of the water-stopping casing 90 throughwhich it is more difficult for water to pass than air. In this case, inview of the size of water droplets passing through the lower left slit71 of the lower casing 70 and the upper rear slit 81 of the upper casing80 of the reactor box 50, it is conceivable to dispose a porouswater-stopping left slit and a porous water-stopping rear slit disposedwith numerous small holes that can trap water droplets of apredetermined size based on the sizes of those water droplets. With aporous water-stopping left slit and a porous water-stopping rear slit,many of the water droplets of the water droplets (moisture) and airpassing through the lower left slit 71 of the lower casing 70 and theupper rear slit 81 of the upper casing 80 can be trapped so that onlythe air is allowed to pass therethrough and the water droplets and airare separated. Here, the moisture that is trapped in the porouswater-stopping left slit and the porous water-stopping rear slit fallsdownward in the vertical direction D1 when a certain amount isaccumulated. Consequently, in the same manner as in the above-describedembodiment, the water droplets passing through the lower left slit 71 ofthe lower casing 70 and the upper rear slit 81 of the upper casing 80can be discharged to the blow chamber S1 outside the reactor box 50through the drain holes 76 disposed in the lower casing 70.

Further, the outdoor unit may also be one where slits having structureslike the water-stopping left slit 91 and the water-stopping slit 91′ ofthe water-stopping casing 90 are superposed in several layers anddisposed between the reactor 52 and the lower left slit 71 of the lowercasing 70 and the upper rear slit 81 of the upper casing 80 of thereactor box 50. Further, the outdoor unit may also be one where aplurality of the water-stopping left slit 91 and the water-stopping rearslit 91′ of the water-stopping casing 90 are integrally formed, becauseit suffices as long as the water-stopping left slit 91 and thewater-stopping rear slit 91′ are disposed between the reactor 52 and thelower left slit 71 of the lower casing 70 and the upper rear slit 81 ofthe upper casing 80 of the reactor box 50.

The same effects as those previously mentioned can be obtained even witha reactor box of an outdoor unit where these structures are employed.

(B)

In the outdoor unit 2 of the air conditioner 100 in the above-describedembodiment, the heat-emitting electrical parts such as the powertransistor 45 disposed in the electrical parts unit 40 employ structuresthat can allow heat to escape via the heat-dissipating fin 43 disposedsuch that it runs through the blow chamber S1 in the electrical partsunit 40.

However, a structure may also be employed where both the reactor box 50and the electrical parts unit 40 are disposed in the blow chamber S1. Inthis case, when the blow chamber S1 is relatively wide, both can bedisposed at more distant positions. It will be noted that in the case ofan outdoor unit disposed with two of the propeller fans 27, both can beparticularly easily disposed apart in the blow chamber S1. Additionally,in this case also, the reactor 52 and the heat-emitting electrical parts42 can be disposed furthest apart such that they can be more effectivelycooled.

It will also be noted that the part emitting the most heat of theelectrical parts 42 disposed in the electrical parts unit 40 may beselected and disposed in the blow chamber S1.

(C)

In the outdoor unit 2 of the air conditioner 100 in the above-describedembodiment, the reactor box 50 is disposed in the upper space of theblow chamber S1. However, when there is no potential for the reactor 52housed in the reactor box 50 to become submerged in water, the reactorbox 50 can also be disposed on the bottom surface of the outdoor unit 2.Even in this case, similar to the outdoor unit 2 of the above-describedair conditioner 100, the resistance of the blowing resulting from thepropeller fan 27 can be suppressed so that the reactor can beefficiently cooled.

(D)

In the above-described embodiment, the reactor box 50 is configured bythree casings. However, the reactor box 50 may also be one where threecasings are integrally formed such that the structure is the same asthat in the above-described embodiment.

(E)

In the reactor box 50 in the above-described embodiment, the reactor 52is disposed with the reactor-attaching concave portions 98 in the uppersurface 99 of the water-stopping casing 90. However, the reactor 52 mayalso have a structure where an attachment portion for disposing thereactor 52 is disposed in the side surface of each casing, because itsuffices for the reactor 52 to be disposed such that it does not contactthe bottom surface 79 of the reactor box 50 where there is the potentialfor moisture to accumulate.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the outdoor unit of the air conditioner pertaining to thepresent invention, the effect of cooling heat-emitting parts can beimproved while preventing water from contacting the heat-emitting parts,which is particularly effective with respect to an outdoor unit of anair conditioner where a fan chamber disposed with a fan and a machinechamber other than the fan chamber are partitioned and whereheat-emitting parts are disposed.

1. An outdoor unit of an air conditioner the outdoor unit comprising: afan chamber having a fan disposed therein; a machine chamber separatedfrom the fan chamber; a casing disposed inside the fan chamber, with thecasing having at least one openings; a heat-emitting part housed insideof the casing; and an impermeable plate disposed in the casing between aposition where the openings is disposed and a position where theheat-emitting part is housed, the impermeable plate being furtherconfigured and arranged to obstruct passage of water with moredifficulty than for air to pass through the opening to the heat-emittingpart.
 2. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the casing isdisposed in an upper portion of the fan chamber.
 3. The outdoor unitaccording to claim 1, further comprising an electrical parts unitdisposed inside the machine chamber for disposing electrical parts otherthan the heat-emitting part.
 4. The outdoor unit according to claim 3,wherein the casing is disposed inside the fan chamber at a side that isopposite from the machine chamber.
 5. The outdoor unit according toclaim 1, further comprising a fan base configured and arranged in thefan chamber with the fan supported on the fan base and the casing isattached to the fan base.
 6. The outdoor unit according to claim 1,wherein the impermeable plate includes a protruding portions thatprotrudes in a direction away from the heat-emitting part toward theopenings in the casing, and the protruding portions of the impermeableplate is arranged such a water-stopping holes is formed at a lower endof the protruding portion that allows a space in a vicinity of theheat-emitting part and a space in a vicinity of the openings of thecasing to be communicated in a vertical direction.
 7. The outdoor unitaccording to claim 6, wherein the openings in the casing is an intakeports that takes in air from outside of the casing to inside the casing,and the casing further includes a discharge port that discharges airpassing through the water-stopping holes in the impermeable plate to theoutside of the casing.
 8. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, whereinthe heat-emitting part is disposed at a position with a predeterminedheight from a bottom surface of the casing.
 9. The outdoor unitaccording to claim 1, wherein the heat-emitting part is a reactor thatis configured to be used in an inverter circuit for conductingair-conditioning control.
 10. The outdoor unit according to claim 2,further comprising an electrical parts unit disposed inside the machinechamber for disposing electrical parts other than the heat-emittingpart.
 11. The outdoor unit according to claim 10, wherein the casing isdisposed inside the fan chamber at a side that is opposite from themachine chamber.
 12. The outdoor unit according to claim 2, wherein thecasing is disposed inside the fan chamber at a side that is oppositefrom the machine chamber.
 13. The outdoor unit according to claim 2,further comprising a fan base configured and arranged in the fan chamberwith the fan supported on the fan base and the casing attached to thefan base.
 14. The outdoor unit according to claim 2, wherein theimpermeable plate includes a protruding portion that protrudes in adirection away from the heat-emitting part toward the opening in thecasing, and the protruding portion of the impermeable plate is arrangedsuch a water-stopping hole is formed at a lower end portion of theprotruding portion that allows a space in a vicinity of theheat-emitting part and a space in a vicinity of the opening of thecasing to be communicated in a vertical direction.
 15. The outdoor unitaccording to claim 14, wherein the opening in the casing is an intakeport that takes in air from outside of the casing to inside the casing,and the casing further includes a discharge port that discharges airpassing through the water-stopping holes in the impermeable plate to theoutside of the casing.
 16. The outdoor unit according to claim 1,wherein the heat-emitting part is disposed at a position with apredetermined height from a bottom surface of the casing.
 17. Theoutdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the heat-emitting part is areactor that is configured to be used in an inverter circuit forconducting air-conditioning control.
 18. The outdoor unit according toclaim 1, wherein the impermeable plate is a part of an internal casinghaving at least one additional impermeable plate, with the additionalimpermeable plate being disposed in the casing between a position wherean additional opening is disposed and a position where the heat-emittingpart is housed such that the additional impermeable plate is furtherconfigured and arranged to obstruct passage of water with moredifficulty than for air to pass through the additional opening to theheat-emitting part.
 19. The outdoor unit according to claim 18, whereinthe impermeable plate and the additional impermeable plate each includesa protruding portion that protrudes in a direction away from theheat-emitting part toward the opening and the additional opening in thecasing, respectively, and the protruding portions of the impermeableplate and the additional impermeable plate are arranged suchwater-stopping holes are formed at lower end portions of the protrudingportions that allow a space in a vicinity of the heat-emitting part anda space in a vicinity of the opening and the additional opening of thecasing to be communicated in a vertical direction.
 20. The outdoor unitaccording to claim 19, wherein the opening and the additional opening inthe casing are intake ports that take in air from outside of the casingto inside the casing, and the casing further includes a discharge portthat discharges air passing through the water-stopping hole in theimpermeable plate to the outside of the casing.